[Blind Eye Jones]

in the stories, Doyle made Holmes into a morphine addict and habitual cocaine user – a quick line here and there in the movie would have surely explained some of the detective’s idiosyncrasy and behavior.

A quick line (no pun) wasn't needed. But there was a quick action that suggested it: Holmes drinking the eye solution. That eye solution was cocaine that Dr. Sigmund Freud thought highly of and had wanted to patent for eye surgeries (if memory serves me right). Downey has quite a history of drug abuse and maybe he didn't want any overt references.

I was relieved that there was no political subtext -- thinking at first that Holmes would be a new sponsor/hero for the recent atheist movement (adherence to science and all that) -- like other movies that are out this season. This film was refreshingly neutral. I'm liking neutral movies all the more and so will the public. Holmes to be enjoyed as Holmes, however, quirky and bohemian.

[Lonely Bull]

I was relieved that there was no political subtext -- thinking at first that Holmes would be a new sponsor/hero for the recent atheist movement (adherence to science and all that) -- like other movies that are out this season.

Which are those?

I'm happy to hear what you have to report about this movie--I'm no fan of the fashion of injecting political subtexts.